Michigan DT Joey George has taken an unconventional route to success
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (BVM) — Joey George has lived and breathed football throughout his entire life. Success has followed him, although that success has never come without adversity.
George grew up about an hour out of Detroit in Farmington Hills, Michigan. While growing up, George played both baseball and football extensively. He loved playing sports, and he was always one of the best on the field.
“Sports have always been a huge part of my life,” George said. “I’ve played football and baseball for as long as I can remember. They have given me some of my most important core values such as dedication, hard work, and my competitive drive that I don’t think I would’ve gained if it wasn’t for my experiences on the field.”
Once George got to Walled Lake Western High School, he continued to show a passion for sports. He was a dual-sport athlete, playing varsity baseball for three years and finding his true calling on the football field where he was a three-year starter on Walled Lake Western’s offensive line.
George loved playing on the offensive line and was the team’s starting center. He was an integral part of Walled Lake Western’s 2016 playoff run where they came up just short in the state championship against Detroit Martin Luther King.
“I learned a lot about commitment during my time on the Walled Lake Western football team,” George said. “There was not a group of high schoolers in the state more committed to a football program than we were, and that is something I take pride in.”
Awards poured in throughout the center’s high school career. He was named all-conference, an honorable mention all-state, and the Offensive Player of the Year for Walled Lake Western in his senior season.
Academically, George was a star as well. He had a GPA above 4.0 and took his studies very seriously. His dream was to not only attend the University of Michigan, but also play on the football team.
Schools such as Butler and Morehead State viewed George as a starter on their offensive line and made him scholarship offers. However, the Wolverines weren’t one of those schools. Listed at 6-feet, the school was concerned that he simply was not tall enough to play center in the Big Ten.
George worked incredibly hard his senior year to earn scholarship offers and to get a chance with the Wolverines. He decided that he was open to playing on the defensive line, and the school loved the idea of having him join its team as a preferred walk-on.
“My time at Walled Lake Western was where I built the foundation for my success at Michigan,” George said. “I had so many great teachers and coaches, especially Coach Z [Zdebski] and Coach Weiskopf to name a couple, who were completely invested in my high school career and my college recruiting process. I’m so grateful for everyone at Walled Lake Western who helped me get to where I am today.”
Playing the defensive line was something George had done on occasion in high school, but it still was a massive change. He was going to have to work harder than he ever did in his life. Still, he wanted to reach his dream of playing for the Wolverines. George eventually committed to the University of Michigan as a defensive tackle.
“Making the switch from playing center my whole football career to defensive tackle when I arrived at Michigan wasn’t an easy one,” George said. “However, when I was told that they wanted me on defense, I knew this was an opportunity to show that I’m willing to do whatever I can to help the team … The work ethic that I developed at Walled Lake Western paid off when it came to changing my position. I knew that if I was going to be the smallest lineman on the field, I was going to have to be the strongest and the most technically sound.”
On top of playing football for the Wolverines, the 21-year-old had to balance academics throughout his career. The Wolverine standout was enrolled in the Ross School of Business, one of the most prestigious business schools in the country.
Despite the time required to be successful in his commitment to both football and academics, George thrived in both. He was named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree twice in his career and earned prestigious internships at Quicken Loans and RBC Capital Markets throughout his college experience.
“Balancing both football and school can be really tough at times, however, I’ve gotten better at it as the years have gone by,” George said. “I’ve found it really important to try to map out a schedule of when things are due and set myself my own deadlines in order to ensure that I complete them on time. While Ross can be tough, especially in combination with football, it’s a great program that has helped me a lot in getting ready for the business world after graduation.”
Recruiters and coaches always told George he was too small to play college football in a conference like the Big Ten. Despite being one of the shortest defensive linemen in the conference, George earned playing time. He made a few assisted tackles during his senior season and also got the opportunity to play on kickoff returns.
Success has followed George his entire career. In high school, his team was a state finalist. In his senior season with the Wolverines, they had their best season in over a decade and won the Big Ten while earning a trip to the College Football Playoff.
“The College Football Playoff was an extremely exciting experience,” George said. “Throughout the week we got the opportunity to practice at great facilities and have some fun team bonding events. With that being said, it was always a business trip for us and even though the game didn’t end up the way we wanted, I am extremely proud of the season we had and all of the work we put in to get there.”
While the 34-11 playoff loss to Georgia was certainly disappointing, reaching that milestone is still a major accomplishment. George is proud to be part of the team that represented Michigan’s first ever College Football Playoff berth.
Following graduation, George is heading to New York to work for RBC Capital Markets. The firm will undoubtedly appreciate his work ethic that has carried him throughout his football career.
The story of George can be looked at as an inspiration to young athletes. George was told he wasn’t big enough, that he couldn’t play on Michigan’s team, and that he couldn’t be successful in the classroom while playing football. He had to silence his doubters and work harder than anyone else. He never lost sight of what was important to him, and now, he can say he’s achieved his dream.
